An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 174

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524

USA > Idaho > Kootenai County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 174
USA > Idaho > Nez Perce County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 174
USA > Idaho > Shoshone County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 174
USA > Idaho > Latah County > An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho > Part 174

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Joseph L. was born in Noble county, Ohio, near Sharon, on December 3. 1847, being the son of John and Sarah E. (Smost) McClellan. The father was a locomotive engineer and was killed on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad in 1855. Then our subject went to live with his grandmother Smost in Lawrence, Kan- sas, where he attended the public school until he was fifteen years of age, at which time he enlisted in Con- pany A. Ninth Kansas. He participated in the battle of Fayetteville, Arkansas, and his company was the first that went into Van Buren, Arkansas. He served over three years and was mustered out at Duval's bluff. Arkansas, in June, 1865. He returned to Law- rence and purchased a farm four miles from the city and devoted his energies to tilling the soil there for one year and then sold and went to Clinton, working in a flouring mill for two years. In 1868, he went to Quincy, Missouri, and two years later he returned to Clinton and worked in a mill, then went to Chautauqua county, Kansas, and took up a preemption and for eight years lie raised stock and worked in the mill, and handled the land. 1878 was the date he started for Idaho with mule teams, being one hundred and six days on the road. On August 6, he landed in Pull- man, Washington, and after due exploration he took his present place four and one-half miles southeast from Palouse, where he has lived ever since, being one of the leading farmers and respected citizens.

On January 11, 1866, Mr. McClellan married Miss Sarah E. Bell, daughter of Alexander and Bashabee

( Pell). the father being a farmer and sheriff of his county, and both being natives of Virginia. To this union there have been born two children, Kate A. and Evart A. In the fall of 1894, Mr. McClellan con- tracted a second marriage, the lady being Amanda Brown, daughter of Zena and Mary Edwards, natives of Union county, Tennessee. Her father was a wagon maker and her grandfather was also a Tennesseean and a blacksmith. Mrs. McClellan had four sisters and three brothers and by her former marriage she has the following children, Minnie, married and living in Pa- louse ; Thomas belongs to the regular army in Mis- soula, Montana ; Joseph, Frank, Effie and Roy at home. Mr. McClellan has two brothers, William J. and Fin- ley W. Mr. McClellan is a Republican and active in politics and in his business enterprises he has shown marked enterprise and sagacity, having now a good estate well stocked and excellently handled.

ELMER P. PALMER. This real pioneer and builder of the county is eminently fitted for representa- tion in any work that has to do with the leading citi- zens of this section, being a man of fine capabilities and having maintained an unsullied reputation through out his interesting career. Mr. Palmer is a native of Indiana, being born in St. Joseph county, on March 17, 1854, the son of Asher H. and Nancy Pal- mer. The father was born in Fredonia, New York, in 1801, and was an active pioneer, as was his father before him. The mother was a native of Erie county, Pennsylvania, born in 1818 of Dutch lineage, and her father was merchant from New Amsterdam. The parents removed from Indiana, the birth place of our subject, to Minnesota when he was an infant. Set- tlement was made in this last state in Fillmore county, where a homestead was taken and there they farmed for about eighteen years. Then the father sold out and went to Nebraska, remaining two years, and in 1873 our subject came to Portland. One year later he came to the section where he now lives, it then be- ing Nez Perces county. He settled on his present place and his brother, C. W., also came here at the same time. The first winter was very severe, and the game was slaughtered mercilessly by the settlers. At that time Walla Walla was the principal trading post of any importance and no settlers were between the high hills south of where Viola now stands and the Palouse river with the exception of three. Mr. Palmer and his brother still live on their original farms and they have been prospered. Our subject ships fruit and has for ten years and now has a large young orchard of about forty acres. He is at present milking fifteen cows and ships cream to the Hazelwood company at Spokane. Mr. Palmer has a fine farm adjoining Viola, an ele- gant residence, and is one of the most prosperous men of the section. He does not raise much wheat, but is sowing much clover for the use of his cows.

The marriage of Mr. Palmer and Miss Rosa L., daughter of James and Lucy Maxwell, was solem- nized near Whelan, Whitman county, Washington,

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and they have become the parents of the following children, Harry. M., F. Glen, and Claude E., all at home. Mrs. Palmer's father is a farmer near Whelan and served in the Civil war under Sherman for three years, being now the recipient of a pension for the valiant and hard service which he did, which broke down his health. Mr. Palmer is a firm believer in good schools and is an advocate of having them well supported by taxation. He and his wife are mem- hers of the Adventist church. They are leading peo- pie of the community and are well liked by al.

GEORGE H. DOUGHARTY. The thrifty and enterprising farmers and fruit raisers of Latah county have made her what she is today, one of the leading counties of the state; and among this number who have thus worthily wrought, we are glad to mention the name of the gentleman of whom we now now have the privilege of writing. He has been here since the early days, being a pioneer when the stretches of wildwoods and prairies were to be seen on every hand, and he has steadily labored here since and justly de- serves the place among the real builders of the county where he stands.

Mr. Dougharty was born in Amador county, Cali- fornia, on December 24, 1855, being the son of Will- iam and Elizabeth (Brown) Dougharty. The parents came to California from Illinois in 1850, and when George H. was four years of age, they removed from Amador county to Contra Costa county, sixteen miles from Oakland, and there they remained until our subject was twenty-three years of age. He was edu- cated there and assisted his father in the work on the farm. In 1878 he came to the territory now embraced in Latah county, and at the spot where we find the family home at the present day, he took a homestead and his skill and industry and thrift have been dis- played here ever since with the result that he has one of the well paying and highly cultivated estates of the county. It is located three miles west of Kendrick and in the finest fruit belt in the west. He has twenty- five acres devoted to apples and some few trees of other fruits and his orchard is a handsome dividend payer.

Fraternally Mr. Dougharty is affiliated with the W. of W., Lodge No. 204, at Kendrick. His marriage with Miss Dora, daughter of Tilman and Angeline ( Turner) Jennings, was celebrated at Moscow, on October 31, 1884, and they have three children, Arie, Clarence and Lawrence. Mrs. Dougharty's father was one of the pioneers of this section and still lives in the vicinity of Genesee.

SAMUEL T. SILVEY is one of the enterprisnig men of the vicinity of Viola, Idaho, and a leading stockman, agriculturist and orchardist. He was born on October 4, 1861, in Marion county, Indiana. His

Parents were Presley A. and Diana (White) Silvey. The father was a blacksmith at the home place, and was born in 1831, forty-five miles south from Indian- apolis. He was drafted but never sent to the front in the Civil war. The mother was born in Ohio, in 1837, and came with her parents in early Indian times to Indiana. Her brothers were all soldiers in the Civil war and one perished there. Our subject re mained in Indiana for eleven years and then came with the family to Lafayette county, Missouri, where the father followed his trade and Samuel T. learned car- pentering. Fourteen years later the parents returned to Indiana, and this son came west to Hutchinson, Kansas, working one year there at his trade and then in 1887. he journeyed to Idaho, settling at Viola. Saw milling engaged him for two years and then he turned again to his trade, working also one year on the Nez Perces reservation, erecting houses for the In- dians. About 1808 he settled on his present farm, one mile south from Viola and has given his attention to farming. Mr. Silvey practices the diversified plan, but derives his greatest revenue from stock and intends to soon raise much of the finer breeds. He also gives attention to the production of fine grasses, experiment- ing much with various kinds. Mr. Silvey has also a fine ten-acre orchard from which he derives a good revenue.

On July 23, 1898, at Moscow, occurred the mar- riage of Mr. Silvey and Hattie A. (Harrison) Hol- brook, the daughter of E. B. and Jane ( Sherer ) Harri- son, who lives one mile east from Viola. To this union there has been born one child, Earl. By her first hus- band, Mrs. Silvey has three children, as follows: Silas H., Roy H. and May A. Mrs. Silvey has been a teacher for a number of years and taught one of the first schools at Viola. Fraternally Mr. Silvey is a member of the Maccabees, Viola Lodge, No. 14. He was elected justice of the peace of his precinct, but not desiring public honors, refused to qualify. Mr. Sil- vey has always been active in the matter of educa- tional affairs and strives for the betterment of the schools. Politically he is identified with the Demo- cratic party. He is a progressive, enterprising and energetic man and good citizen and does much intel- ligent labor in his experiments for the betterment of the condition of all. He receives the esteem and con- fidence of all of his fellows.

RUFUS M. BOWLES. No citizen is better known and more highly appreciated and esteemed by the public in general about Viola than the gentleman, of worth and honor, whose name heads this article, being a general merchant at that place and postmaster. Mr. Bowles was born in Frederick county, Mary- land, on November 4, 1855, being the son of Captain Samuel and Mahala (Gaver) Bowles. The father was a prominent man of that section, being representative from his county to the state legislature and captain of the home guards during the Civil war. Our subject

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HISTORY OF NORTH IDAHO.

remained there until he was nineteen years of age, receiving a good education in the public schools and the academy, and a business training. 1874 was the date when he left the native place and went to Spring- field, Ohio, acting as salesman in a store there for one year, then continuing his westward journey to Sioux City, Iowa, where he worked for two years and then went to Portland, Oregon, in 1877. He remained there until 1884. He taught school in The Dalles and went thence to Puget Sound, taking a timber claim in Lewis county and in 1889 he sold it and came to Spokane, Washington, arriving there two days after the fire. One year was spent there running a restaurant, then he sold out and came to Viola, opening up a general store here, succeeding Mr. J. H. Gilbert, whose store had been destroyed by fire. Mr. Bowles also was appointed postmaster as successor of Mr. Gilbert, and since that time he has steadily served in that important office, always laboring to conserve the interests of the people and for good service. Mr. Bowles does a thriving trade and is highly esteemed by his patrons for his uprightness and integrity.

The marriage of Mr. Bowles and Miss Melinda, daughter of James and Melinda Hurst, was celebrated near The Dalles on November 15, 1880. Mrs. Bowles' father was one of the earliest settlers in that section, coming there in 1859 and settling on Ten Mile creek, where he is one of the leading stockmen of the country. To our worthy subject and his estimable wife, there have been born the following children: Samuel C., atending Moscow high school and assisting his father in the store during vacations; Archie E., also attend- ing the high school at Moscow ; Alvin H. and Edward, at Puget Sound at present ; Floyd A., at home. Mr. Bowles is a charter member of the Knights of Macca- bees, being record keeper in Viola Tent, No. 14. He is greatly interested in political matters, being fre- quently delegate to the county conventions, while in school matters he is enthusiastic in the endeavors for betterment of the schools, improvements on all lines of education, and is forceful in assisting these good causes. He has served six years as school clerk and devotes much talent and energy to this cause.

MICHAEL EVITS. This well known and repre- sentative agriculturist and stockman is one of the leaders in the county of Latah in his line of business, being also one of the early pioneers and a real builder of the county, having labored faithfully here long before there was a Latah county organization, and being now one of the heaviest property holders of the entire section, having about eight hundred acres of fine land, six hundred of which is under cultivation, and producing many bushels of grain each year.

Mr. Evits was born in Austria on September 15, 1837, being the son of Martin and Mary (Scholer) Evits, who were also natives of Austria. being buried in the old church yard there now. Our subject re- ceived a good common school education and at the

age of eight went to herding sheep and cattle in the summers and continued this enterprise until he was fifteen, when he learned the carpenter trade, laboring at the same until he was a score of years old. He was then put to serve his term in the Austrian army and nine years were spent in this occupation, four of which were as corporal. He was a participant in the French and German war of 1866. After leaving the army he came to America and located in St. Louis, where he was busied in driving an ice wagon for two years. Then he came to Latah county, by way of Panama, arriving here in 1870. He labored for wages for two years, then took up a pre-emption of one quarter sec- tion, and in 1873 took a timber culture of eighty acres. In 1885 he bought three hundred and twenty acres, in 1892 bought another quarter, and in 1896 bought an eighty. With one continuous round of success, Mr. Evits has gone steadily forward, his prosperity being the legitimate result of his boundless energy, wise management and keen foresight, backed by a fine executive force, all of which are happily resident in his make up.

He has raised much stock, but now handles the land largely to grain. He has an elegant residence, costing over five thousand dollars, a barn, sixty by eighty, a granery that will hold seven thousand bushels of grain, and all other improvements in proportion, making his estate one of the most valuable, beautiful and homelike in the entire country. Mr. Evits is justly reckoned as one of the leaders among men in both his business ability and in his exemplary walk as an up- right man and patriotic citizen.

Mr. Evits married Miss Katherine, daughter of Mat and Maggie (Everts) Kambridge, also natives of Austria, where they sleep in the home church yard. Four children have been born to our worthy subject and his faithful and estimable wife, namely: Katie, married to Joseph Springer, living in Latah county ; Louisa, married to William Teamer, living in Latah county ; Mary, married to Pete Jacobs, and living in Whitman county, Washington; Annie, single and liv- ing with her parents. Mr. Evits has served two years as road supervisor in an acceptable manner to all. He and his wife are members of the Roman Catholic church and manifest a deep interest in the support of the faith. It is a matter of great credit to Mr. Evits to note that when he came to this county he labored two years for wages but is now one of the leading property owners and farmers of the whole country, having gained it all by wise investment of the hard earned money which his industry brought him and at the same time maintaining not only a reputation that is unsullied but also a standing for wisdom and enter- prise that have always caused him to be consulted by his fellows and gives an enviable prestige in the com- munity.

JOHN BOTTJER. Among the representative property owners and leading agriculturists of Latah county there should not be failure to mention the sub-

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ject of this sketch, since he has faithfully done the work of the pioneer here, manifesting zeal, ability and wisdom in the course of his pilgrimage, and withal has shown his financial ability in the fine accumulation of property with which he is blessed now, and which is handled in a becoming manner with wisdom.

The birth of Mr. Bottjer occurred on September 29, 1839, being the son of Henry and Louis (Luckan) Bottjer, natives of Germany, and being now buried in the Bloomingtauh cemetery, that town being the native place of our subject. John was favored with a good education in the common schools and at the age of fourteen years started to learn the trade of ship carpenter. For thirteen years we find him apt and successful in this craft and then he came to America, locating in New York, where he labored for seven years. Then followed a journey by Panama to Cali- fornia where he resided for four years and whence he came to the place where he now lives, the country then being in Nez Perces county. Two years were spent at the carpenter trade and then he homesteaded his present place, later taking a pre-emption of eighty acres. He has added by purchase since that time until he has four hundred and twenty-five acres of fine soil, which is embellished with a fine residence, a good barn and plenty of outbuildings, a choice orchard, the place being one of the elegant and home-like estates of the county, every portion of it bearing the marks of a wise owner and thrifty husbandry, which have brought the reward of honest labor, which is a goodly competence of worldly property.

In 1870 Mr. Bottjer married Miss Margaretha, daughter of John H. and Margaret Brandt, and eight children have been born to them, namely: Mary, mar- ried to Charley Scharnhorst and living in Latah county ; Louise, married and living at home ; William, at home ; Henry G., Johanna J., Margaretha C., Hen- retha A., Johan H. Mr. Bottjer is a member of the I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Ger- man Lutheran church. Mr. Bottjer is one of the prominent men of the community, has done much in the years that are past for the progress and upbuilding of the county, and is a genial, affable and well liked neighbor and gentleman.

JOSEPH SPRENGER. While the subject of this sketch has not been in Latah county so long as some, still his handiwork is manifest in a commendable de- gree, since he has always labored for the advancement of the interests of the county as well as laying and ex- ecuting commendable plans for his own prosperity. Mr. Sprenger was born in Germany, Madfelt, the date of this event being February 1, 1865, and his parents being Frank and Josephine (Sebers) Sprenger, also natives of the fatherland, where they reside at this time. In his native village Joseph received a good education and learned thoroughly the carpenter trade before he was twenty-one years of age. At that im- portant age his budding spirit looked for larger fields and more excellent opportunities and consequently he

came to America, locating in Iowa, where he labored in the car shops for two years, utilizing his fine trade, in which he was especially skilled. Following that period he came west to Spokane, Washington, the year being 1889, and two years were spent in that city at the trade and then in 1891 he came to Uniontown, Washington, and two years there he wrought at the same trade. Then for three years he toiled on the farm of Mr. M. Evits, after which he purchased one hundred acres of land for himself, where he now lives, five miles west from Genesee. He erected with his own hands a fine residence, barns and out buildings, so that his piace is finely improved and is a scene of thrift and bears the marks of wise planning and faithful in- dustry. He has the farm all under cultivation, han- dles a small bunch of stock and is in all respects a well to do farmer, and among the leaders in skill and execution of good methods.

In 1893 occurred the marriage of Mr. Sprenger and Miss Katie M. Evits, whose parents, M. and Katherine (Kimhetch) Evits, are residents of this county and are specifically mentioned in another por- tion of this work. To our subject and his estimable wife have been born the following children : Katie M., Mary J., Theresa A. and Gertrude L. Mr. Sprenger and his wife are adherents of the Roman Catholic church.

DANIEL HUNT lives five and one-half miles northeast from Moscow on a generous farm of two hundred and forty acres, which his skill and industry have wrested from the wilds of nature and have trans- formed into a fertile and abundant producer of the cereals, fruits and stock. He is one of the leaders in this realm of development, and has wrought out his present goodly competence from the resources placed in his hands in this country. Mr. Hunt was born in Chautauqua county, New York, on November 2, 1845, being the son of Seneca and Julia Hunt, farmers of that state. At the age of seven he was brought west by his parents who settled in Cresco, Howard county, Iowa, where he received a fine education and then devoted himself for ten years to teaching school, hold- ing a first class certificate. 1880 marks the year in which a move was made to Council Bluffs, in the same state, and there he gave his attention to farm- ing for two years and then turned toward the west to gain both health and wealth, having lost them both in an uncertain struggle in Iowa in the endeavor to raise wheat profitably. When he landed in Latah coun- ty he at once sought out the homestead where he now lives and settled down. Raw land, a frontier country, poor health, depleted finances and many other de- pressing circumstances thronged him, but despite it all his courage was as bright as ever and he started in to settle the question of existence. He began with the arduous labor of cutting and hauling wood, gained strength and later went to laying brick and plastering, which he had learned younger ; he also logged for the mill companies and mined some and kept steadily im- proving his farm. The result was that he began to

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prosper at once, gained slowly, improved his farm until he has now a model place and an abundant pro- ducer, well improved and handled in a cemmendable manner, while he enjoys a fine residence, commodious barn and all the accessories that make rural life profita- ble and comfortable. In 1873 he took a journey through Washington and taught school where Slaugh- ter now stands.

On October 26, 1876, at Arcadia, Wisconsin, Mr. Hunt married Miss Pruda M., daughter of Alva and Pruda Yarrington. The father was sheriff of Han- cock county, Iowa, was active in politics and an early settler there. To Mr. and Mrs. Hunt there have been born the following children : Bertha E., wife of Luther Lowry, of this county; Meritt T., a school teacher ; Almon D. : Katie E., deceased ; Amabel M., Harvey E., and Bessie E., the last one being an adopted child. Mr. and Mrs. Hunt are members of the Methodist church and are liberal supporters of that institution. Politically Mr. Hunt has been active, being a candidate for assessor in lowa, and making a good race on the Republican ticket. He takes a great interest in edu- cational matters and politics as becomes every loyal citizen.

WILLIAM S. MAGUIRE. Latah county is well supplied with stanch and enterprising agriculturists and one among this worthy number it is now our pleasant privilege to give consideration in this volume of the county history. Mr. Maguire is a wise and skillful farmer and also handles some stock and does mining. He was born in the city of New York to James and Catherine Maguire, on December 12, 1843. The father was a manufacturer of edged tools and re- moved his family to Cleveland, Ohio, while our sub- ject was still a small boy, and there the latter received some schooling and the father followed his trade. In 1851 the father removed to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and there prosecuted his trade for seventeen years. William S. completed his education in that city and also learned the sheet iron trade. It was in 1868 that he began to look toward the west and soon he was on his way to lowa where he farmed in Harrison and Cass counties for several years. Thence he went to Port- land, Oregon, arriving at the time the captured Snake Indians were hung for massacring the whites. He was soon in Walla Walla, Washington, and a little later he took up his present farm which is four and one- half miles northeast from Moscow, and the date when he settled was 1874. He was one of the oldest settlers in this section and he has the distinction of being one of the real builders of this county, having always wrought with energy and wisdom. Mr. Maguire pays attention to raising the king of cereals, wheat, almost entirely, also handling cows and horses.

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An illustrated history of north Idaho : embracing Nez Perces, Idaho, Latah, Kootenai and Shoshone counties, state of Idaho, Part 174

Author: Publication date: 1903 Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1524

Author:
Publication date: 1903
Publisher: [S.l.] : Western Historical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1524